Read the December 10 meeting.

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Thank you.

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guitar solo

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guitar solo

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All right.

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Oh, my God.

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Oh, oh, oh, oh.

guitar solo

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guitar solo

guitar solo

guitar solo

guitar solo

guitar solo

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I'm going to go.

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Recording in progress.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I hereby call the Santa Ana City Council's special meeting to order. This meeting is taking place with in-person attendance and by teleconference via Zoom. The public may access the meeting via the Santa Ana YouTube channel or the City's website. Please bear with us as the technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting. As a reminder, this is the meeting to conduct the business of the city. As mayor, I am afforded the opportunity to call for a recess or a break or to even clear the meeting room if a meeting becomes too disruptive to properly conduct business.

Valerie Amezcua

Warnings will be provided prior to any action being taken. We appreciate your cooperation. For everyone's safety, per the fire marshal, please do not stand or place objects in the aisles, in front of the dais, along the back wall of the council chamber, or in front of entrances and exits. Guidelines for members of the news media or anyone else who wishes to film or photograph the meeting are available in the lobby. During city council presentations, guests of individuals being recognized are invited to come to the front to take photos. Madam Clerk, please conduct the roll call.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Becerra.

Here.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Hernandez. Council Member Lopez. Here. Council Member Penalosa. Present. Council Member Vasquez. Present. Mayor Pro Tem Fan. Here. Mayor Mesqua. Present. Six members present, that is a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Before we proceed to the presentation of the colors, please make an announcement. For members of the public on Zoom or teleconference to request to speak during public comments on items specifically listed on the agenda, please dial star nine from your phone or click the button labeled raise hand from Zoom now to be in the speaker queue once public comments commence. Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you. First item on the agenda is the presentation of the colors.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Arse.

Four here. Arse.

Eight. Four here.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you at this time. Corporal, you may lead us out in the national anthem or sing with your beautiful voice.

Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Valerie Amezcua

Beautiful. Thank you so much.

Valerie Amezcua

At this time, I'd like to call up Pastor Tommy Coda for words of inspiration.

Now I just kind of wish I had a beautiful voice like hers. I'd sing this. You know, there's a passage in the Bible that I'd like to share, and it says this. It says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. and father lord we thank you that we can gather in this place and and lord i really just we feel that this place is not just a place where conversations are had and business is discussed

for our city but lord we recognize also that this is holy ground and we pray lord for your wisdom and your insight for all the decisions that are being made for our city and for all of the people who call Santa Ana their home. And so, God, we pray for unity. We pray for your blessings. I thank you, Lord, that we have this opportunity on this special occasion to gather. And we just ask, God, your covering over all of our law enforcement, all of the first responders, our city officials, those who have been elected to office, our school district,

and Lord for all of the economy and all the business owners and homeowners and and just all of the residents that there would just be a great sense of unity amongst us all and so Lord we pray that you would be present in this place in Jesus name Amen

Amen.

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you, Pastor Cotum. This is the time of the meeting for the City Council to receive comments from the public. On agenda items only, Madam City Clerk, please explain the public comment procedures and call the first speakers. Thank you, Mayor.

Jennifer L. Hall

Pursuant to Resolution No. 2023-047, speakers are requested to address the City Council directly and to refrain from profane language, racial epitaphs, and libelous or slanderous statements that disturb the decorum of the meeting. Pursuant to the Brown Act, the City Council may not enter into discussion at this time. Speakers will have three minutes for their comments and the comments are limited to items on the agenda only. We did not receive any email comments related to tonight's special meeting. So I'll start calling the cards for members who are here present in the chamber.

Jennifer L. Hall

When you hear your name, please line up behind the podium. Joel Block, Nellie Legaspi, and Tom Frazier.

my name is joel block thanks for the opportunity to speak i congratulate all those who are being sworn in tonight and the rest of the council. The election has now been reported by the county registrar of voters. I want to have all the council members, the new ones, the victors, and also those that were not up for election to understand there's an important plaque outside this room. It recognized the city back in the 80s when Ronald Reagan was president. We recognize the city as being a special city among cities.

It's an important message for us all today. I just was involved in a nationwide effort to get the FDA to make available a very effective antipsychotic medication called clozapine. The reason why it's relevant is that it's going to be, I know about it because my own son has serious mental illness. He has schizoaffective disorder, which is part of the spectrum of schizophrenia. These are the people that are populated over jails. They're in our streets.

They're the ones that get killed in police interactions, and they need the attitude of treatment with effective uses. And if you read up and you have your city look at it, but clozapine is a miracle drug. It's been on the market for 30 years, through bureaucracy and other mistakes, which has not been available. The advisor committee voted on November 19, 14 to one, to approve relaxing access to this important drug. My son has been psychotic, he's been hospitalized many times. He's on clozapine now, he's about to go to UC or UCSU after graduating from community college,

a two-year degree. And I think we need to make sure that the plaque outside, which recognizes as the first project, community policing. Community policing includes, recognize there's a mentally ill community within every city, including Santa Ana. That means you address that community with concern, but you also address it with solutions. And the city can play an important role, like every psychiatrist, like every medical provider. You don't want to have any more police, mentally ill interactions that result in serious injury or death. That is very bad. I'm a lawyer.

You're going to be sued even if the cops don't have to do the wrong thing. They're going to get sued. It's just reality of our current system. So I need to bring, this is a holiday season. I want to be a little bit more uplifting. I have the confidence that Santa Ana can pave the way in how it deals with the mentally ill. Thank you.

Good evening, Council Members, Mayor. I'm Nellie Legaspi, Ward 3. First off, I want to say congratulations to Council Member Lopez, Fan, and Hernandez. You ran a very classy, respectful campaign, and I commend you all for that because it's too easy to fall into negative speech and negative attitudes and what you all did should be very proud of yourselves I know I am for one proud as your ward resident and proud as you're an aunt tonight I'm here to recognize councilmember Hernandez as the first

Native American councilmember he is recognized and accepted and that is a big responsibility because how he carried himself during the campaign is how we carry ourselves I no longer have a title I no longer work for the county so I'm loose and I will say that how we conduct ourselves and how we speak represents our ancestors represents who we are today and who we were but make no mistake we are not nobody's victims and we are no one's patsy and we don't

tolerate disrespect and I will stand up for you council members who walk the way you should you are something for your ancestors to be very proud of all three of you I commend you that's not taken lightly technically I am an elder now that's also a lot of responsibility and that's heavy on my shoulders yes I have a jacked up knee right now I shattered it but this was important for me to be here tonight and the reason why I mentioned that is I find it very interesting to slightly go back briefly that when allegations were made against Councilman Hernandez about

Indigenous People's Day it's funny nobody picked up the phone and called me and I am the person that worked with the staff one-on-one, and I am the person that asked Councilman Hernandez to help us, to come be a part of it. Why? Because he spearheaded it. So I don't know why nobody could reach out to me. Everybody has my email, my phone number. I guess the truth is not always wanted. Councilmember Hernandez carried himself well. That's what I will give you, and that's what I'll stand behind. Again, congratulations to you all.

Jennifer L. Hall

Tom Frazier followed by Fernando Devoros.

Hi, Tom Frazier, award three. First off, congratulations to all the incumbents from securing your spots again. And Ben, I'm going to give a shout out to you, 40% of vote. That's nothing to sneeze at. Very well done. Thank you for running and participating in the election process. That's great.

I don't know if Katz is here or not, but I really hope that you present some of your positive ideas to Jesse and present it in a good way. That race is pretty tight. A lot of people turned out there in Ward 3. I'm looking forward to this next term, and I'd love to see a lot less caustic and confrontational issues going on up there on the dais. These people have been reelected now. They deserve your respect. All right? They're your colleagues. Okay? So I'd love to see that. No nonsense on recalls. No nonsense on censors.

You guys got a big load coming up on you. I don't have to review it here, especially in trying to help out our non-citizen neighbors, friends, school children, because they're coming, they're coming, and we're gonna have to do something about it. So hope you all support each other and respect each other. Thank you.

Good evening, counsel. I want to echo some of the comments that previous speakers made. Congratulations to all the incumbents who won their re-election, and I And I really want to highlight for the people watching at home and the people here today how significant it is to have council members Jesse Lopez and Tai Phan and council member Jonathan Hernandez here on this dais when tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, I got to check the numbers later, were thrown into this election by the police officers association, the apartments association, the California apartments association, and all

sorts of corrupt interests who were really fighting to kick these champions off the dais and they failed. And so, and I hope they understand that Santana no se vende. What do they do? Santana no se vende.

So keep your money. Give it to your officers. Give it an extra day off. Stay out of our politics, please. I also want to congratulate the grassroots organizers who are fighting to protect Measure CC, to protect rent control here in our city.

And again, I don't believe in villains. I believe that everyone here on this dais is sincerely trying to do their best to represent the people that they represent. But I do know that money plays a role in shaping who you determine is worthy of your representation. And the fact that we have members on this dais who voted, or not voted, but explicitly stated their opposition to rent control. When the majority of the residents in the city, not only are they tenants, but they voted in support of this measure. I hope that sends a message to you. Stop listening to your donors. Listen to your residents.

Now, I also wanted to come here to speak today about some of the ideological differences that I've seen over these last two years here on this dais. And like I said, I don't believe in villains, but I do believe that there are certain ideologies that will lead you to dehumanize certain individuals and make it so that it's hard for you to extend your compassion to people that you might otherwise care for. And what does that look like? That looks like Councilmember Becerra uploading photos of unhoused individuals going through probably the worst moments in their life and uploading that to social media for

us to point and laugh at I don't know what your goal is there maybe next time upload a photo of you helping them get some support it looks like mayor Mesquah making it I don't know what it was at the last meeting where you were unable to offer an apology to the mother of a man who was brutally assaulted by a bad apple on our department when it was clearly something that was very easy to do but those are the kind of things that I noticed on this council I want people here to recognize that you're not here to serve this person or that person you're here to serve everybody you're here to serve everybody and that means

everybody is worthy of your compassion so please remember that moving forward

Jennifer L. Hall

thank you mayor and City Council that concludes the in-person speakers there are no speakers on zoom so that concludes the public comments great

Valerie Amezcua

thank you this time we're gonna go to the business calendar like resolution item number one two does any council council member have any comments are we pulling anything

there i'll make a motion to approve i'll second i don't see any microphones up to

Jennifer L. Hall

speak so then let's prepare to vote motion by councilmember peña loza seconded by mayor mesqua to approve the recommended action for item number one of the business calendar inclusive of a resolution of the city council of the city of santa ana reciting the fact of the general municipal election held on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, declaring the results and such other matters as may be provided by law, as well as an ordinance of the people of the City of Santa Ana adopting a rent stabilization and just cause eviction ordinance, and authorizing submission to the Secretary of State for Charter Amendment Measure EE.

Jennifer L. Hall

We can do a roll call vote please. Councilmember Becerra?

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Yes.

Jennifer L. Hall

Councilmember Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

I told you so. Yes.

Jennifer L. Hall

Councilmember Lopez? Yes. Councilmember Penalosa?

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Yes.

Jennifer L. Hall

Councilmember Vasquez?

Yes.

Jennifer L. Hall

Mayor Pro Tem Phan. Yes. Mayor Mesquah. Yes. VOTE 7 Ayes, no nays. Motion carries.

Valerie Amezcua

Great. Thank you. At this time, let's join in the wow for a group photo. Where would you like us, Madam Clerk?

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Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

At this time, Madam Clerk, we'll do the oath of office. Mayor Pro Tem, Ty Phan, please. Ward 1.

Jennifer L. Hall

Ty Viet Phan, Ward 1 Councilmember Elect, please come down to the well. Oath of office should be administered by her sister, Tu and I Phan.

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Thank you.

Thai Viet Phan

You have to stand on this side.

Thai Viet Phan

Hold on. I'm nervous.

Thai Viet Phan

I, Ty Viet Phan Lu, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution

of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, that I will take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, that I will well and faithfully discharge

Thai Viet Phan

that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

Congratulations.

Thai Viet Phan

Thank you.

Thai Viet Phan

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Thai Viet Phan

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Thai Viet Phan

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and I will be able to perform good and honest with the tasks I am going to accept.

Thai Viet Phan

Can you say that again?

And I will be able to perform good and honest with the tasks I am going to accept.

Thai Viet Phan

That was hard guys.

Thai Viet Phan

Thank you. Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thai Viet Phan

Hi, good evening. All right, so I'm going to try to do this without crying, but as Councilmember Vasquez knows, we are the crybabies up here.

Thai Viet Phan

First off, thank you. I am honored to be reelected to serve Santa Ana residents. Thank you to the voters, the volunteers, supporters, my friends and family for believing in me and the mission of making our government work for everyday people.

Thai Viet Phan

Okay. As refugees, my family fled Vietnam in search of freedom and prosperity. I was born near a refugee camp in Thailand, hence the name Thai, and after living in the Philippines for a few months, we finally settled in California and made Santa Ana home. Although my sister and I grew up on Section 8 housing vouchers, food stamps, and other welfare benefits, our parents worked every day to make ends meet and to ensure that we can pursue our dreams, dreams that they could never have had for themselves. As immigrants and children

Thai Viet Phan

of immigrants, many Vietnamese children are deeply aware of the love and sacrifice it takes to leave everything our parents knew behind for a chance of a brighter future for us. But they made it. We did it. And we are living it. Being elected and re-elected as the first Vietnamese council member in Santa Ana is bigger than me and bigger than this office. It is about the visibility of a community torn apart by war and a diaspora working to heal and grow in this new home country and in the city where

Thai Viet Phan

Little Saigon began. I vow to continue educating future generations about the loss, grief, and hurt that the Vietnamese community faced, but I'm even more dedicated to ensuring that we look toward the future to build a stronger, thriving Little Saigon right here in Santa Ana.

Thai Viet Phan

I believe in the goodness of government, that the government can and must work for the people.

Thai Viet Phan

So as your public servant, I will always be committed to championing policies that support families, that improve public safety, and that grow our economy. By centering the needs of our families and businesses rather than outside interests and working collaboratively with our partners and my colleagues, we will continue to make Santa Ana an even better place to live and work. Thank you again for this incredible honor.

Thai Viet Phan

So now I have to do it in Vietnamese. It's short I swear. And maybe I'll cry less.

Thai Viet Phan

Thank you.

Thai Viet Phan

to build a community of American people in the first place to have Little Saigon to develop a new life in Santa Ana. As a student, I will always be able to support the policies to help families, to improve the safety of the public and to develop the economic and economic. In order to focus on the needs of families and businesses, and working together with the partners, we will change Santana to a place to live and work better.

Thai Viet Phan

One more time, I thank you for supporting Thái. Thank you.

Thai Viet Phan

Alright, I'm leaving now, guys.

I'll get it in a minute.

Jennifer L. Hall

Next oath of office for council member elect Jesse Lopez for Ward 3. Please join us in the will.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy. It's going to be heavy.

Jessie Lopez

It's going to be heavy.

Thank you.

Jessie Lopez

of the real faith and the truth to the Constitution of the United States

and the Constitution of California. That I will take this obligation free and without any mental reserve

Jessie Lopez

mental

a proposito de la evasión que voy a desencargar que voy a descargar bien

Jessie Lopez

y fielmente que voy a descargar bien y fielmente los deberes los deberes estoy a punto de asumir en los que estoy a punto de asumir

Jessie Lopez

Sorry, I had my hand over my heart. I was supposed to have that.

I, Jussie Lopez, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies

Jessie Lopez

foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States

and the Constitution of the State of California, that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, that I will well and faithfully discharge The duties upon which I am about to enter.

Jessie Lopez

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jessie Lopez

Good evening everyone. Today is a day of immense gratitude and reflection. Sending here before my family, friends, volunteers, what we like to call Team J-Lo, many not present here, local business owners and residents of our ward, I am deeply honored to continue serving you as your councilwoman. To each and every one of you who believed in our vision, thank you. To me, this moment, this victory, really belongs to our community that worked so hard to achieve this. Our success would not be possible without the support and commitment of our incredible community members. I am Jessie Lopez, born and raised

Jessie Lopez

in Santana, the proud daughter of immigrant parents who instilled in me the values of hard work, resilience, and community. At my core, that is who I am. Growing up in a working-class family, I witnessed both the struggles and the triumphs of our community. These experiences shaped my commitment to championing the needs of working families in our city. My story is not just my own. It is a story of so many Santaneros who wake up every day with the hope of building a better life for themselves and their families. At the corner, at the core of what I do is supporting policies that uplift and

Jessie Lopez

empower all residents not just a few. I firmly believe that when all of us thrive our city becomes stronger, better and more united. My focus is on changing the material conditions of our families so that they can succeed and build a brighter future. As I thought about this day, I reflected on the incredible victories of our city. Together we enshrine Measure CC to keep families housed, a monumental step towards ensuring stability and dignity for our residents. Our incumbents won their re-elections and I want to take a moment to thank Councilmember Hernandez,

Jessie Lopez

Councilwoman Mayor Pro Tem Ty Vietfan and Councilmember Vasquez for their support and leadership. I also want to give a special shout out to Councilmember Vasquez for serving as our people's mayor and giving us an important choice. But even as we celebrate these achievements, we must also acknowledge the challenges remain. To our immigrant community, make no doubt I stand with you. We are united by shared hopes for a safe present, a promising future, and access to quality education and opportunities for every family to thrive. These values transcend politics

Jessie Lopez

and will continue to guide every decision I make as your representative. As your Councilwoman, I am committed to working tirelessly for a brighter future where every family can flourish. Together, we will continue to rise. United by hope and determination, building a city where every family can succeed. Thank you for your faith in me, for your trust, and for allowing me to continue this journey with you. To the voters of War III, thank you for believing in my leadership and entrusting me with the honor of serving you again. To Team J-Lo, thank you for your dedication,

Jessie Lopez

hard work, and belief in our vision. Let's move forward together with hope, determination, and a shared commitment to making Santa Ana of the best city that it can be for all of our residents.

Jessie Lopez

But I want to know that this is a place where you are welcome, it's your home, and where you are going to be respected. I want to thank you all for everything you have done to support our campaign and to believe in the vision we have to ensure that all our families in the Santa Santa City can overcome. And here, as a council, I'm going to help you to fulfill this mission. And I want to thank you all for everything you've done for us. You put a card in your business. Thank you.

Jessie Lopez

Never let us forget all the support you've given them. And I want you to know that in me you have a friend. And I'm your council, Jesse Lopez. Thank you very much for your support.

Jessie Lopez

I think that's it, right?

All right.

Jennifer L. Hall

Next we'll have the oath of office for council member elect Ward 5, Jonathan Ryan Hernandez.

I'm humbled. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

I, Jonathan Hernandez, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I will about to enter.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Thank you very much. Thank you Jennifer.

I'm proud it ain't down. Woo! That's what we got to work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Thank you all for being here today. Today is a very important day for Santa Ana and for Orange County and for California. I'm humbled and I'm honored to have been re-elected by the people, the people of Santa Ana. I'd like to begin by thanking God in serving the people I have led with Christ in my heart. I'm proud to have been overwhelmingly re-elected for a second term on the Santa Ana City Council. As council member, I have led efforts to pass public policy that improves the quality of life

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

and addresses inequalities. Some of those examples have affected residents all across our city, whether it be policies like rent control, affordable housing, or hazard pay during the COVID pandemic, my leadership is a reflection of my neighbors. We are here to stay. The people want progress and that's what we're going to give to them. Santa Ana deserves better than a fighting chance. We deserve progress and results. As your council member, I am committed to moving this city forward and I am committed to celebrating all that

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

That is Santa Ana. But I wouldn't be here without my great grandparents whose journey started in Jalisco, Mexico. And when my great grandfather Jose Lopez decided to fight for this country and to serve this country to earn citizenship, he decided to bring over my grandfather Enrique Prieto and Indeliza Prieto in the 50s. Those were my grandparents. They gave birth to my mother here in the city of Santa Ana. I subsequently was born in the summer of 1992.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

And I have the privilege of raising my daughter in the very community that gave my great-grandparents their first shot at being a resident here. And that's in Articia Pilar, Santa Ana. My grandfather, Enrique Prieto, joined the laborers union Local 652. He served for over 45 years. Let's give him a round of applause.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

I am a multi-generational Chicano because of the laborers union. The laborers union was the very reason why my grandfather and my family was able to stay and create generational wealth for their families. It was because they didn't just go on to construction sites and build freeways and build cities. They joined unions before they did that. And my grandfather taught me that. And I want to thank my mother for doing the absolute best that she could to raise me as a young man who was raised in the barrio. Thank you, Mom.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

When I was a kid, Tupac resonated with me deeply because of the love that he had for his mother. And much like Afini Shakur, my mother too made miracles on Christmas and Thanksgiving. And I just want to say thank you to my mom because throughout these four years of serving, it takes a village to raise a child. And I have the privilege of raising a daughter. I think the privilege of raising a daughter is the greatest privilege a person can have. And I have a 14-year-old daughter and she is a stellar young lady who is excelling in the arts. and it's because there's a village of people behind her, and I want to especially thank my mom.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

I'd like to thank her mother. I'd like to thank my brother, and everybody who's poured into my daughter, because I have the privilege of raising the most amazing child. And so to my daughter, Evany, Maya Hernandez, who wasn't feeling well today, Daddy loves you. I am proud of you, and if you ever forget where you come from, you look here in the city of San Anu, your roots exist here. You will never be without your people. You're a santanera. I want to thank the residents of Santa Ana, the residents of Ward 5, because together we have moved this city forward.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Whether it be the leadership of Willard and their demands to have a park space, them working with their council member to deliver. Whether it be residents in Articia Pilar who decided to work with Marina Aguilera to brand the neighborhood. The murals inspired a brand new park space on King Street. That park space now bears her name. Whether it be the residents who are in the Santanita community, who wanted to reduce graffiti in their neighborhood and they had the idea to inspire new murals. It's been an honor to serve and to work alongside you. Whether it be the four additional parks that exist in Ward 5,

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

that is a reflection of Santa Ana's residents. What we've delivered on the council should have always been delivered. Don't pat us on the back for doing our job. Expect us to do more of it.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

I would like to thank the Chicano people who have helped create the largest Chicano moratorium in the United States here in Santa Ana. As your council member, I was proud to lead the efforts to recognize August as Chicano heritage month working alongside Abram Moya and a historian Manny Escamilla we declared August Chicano heritage month we then created the Chicano Heritage Festival bringing 10,000 justice impacted gang impacted police impacted people together in a city where we lose our loved ones to bullets we come

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

together in unity and peace in the month of August we are breaking traditions of trauma and we're doing it with art and so to the Chicano people thank you may we continue to be a reflection of what is possible and lastly I'd like to apologize to my doubters because you guys have lost a lot of money get your politics out of our city you're not welcome we're 2-0 against you we let you know your money it doesn't hold any weight in this city this is our city so So get your politics and your money out of our city, to the Real Estate Association, to anybody who opposed the work of the people.

Johnathan Ryan Hernandez

Keep your money out of politics in Santa Ana, Orange County. This isn't the same city that it once was. Message noted. Please receive it. Thank you.

Si se puede.

Jennifer L. Hall

The final Loة of office for tonight for Mayor-elect Valeria Mescua, administered by her father, Alfredo Amesqua.

Valerie Amezcua

We saved the last, the best for last. Let's do it!

Valerie Amezcua

I can't bring my family up because you'd all fill up the whole, all my supporters. You filled this whole place up.

Valerie Amezcua

I see you back there, my labor fed people. I see you. All right, you got to come closer, baby. Where's Paul? Come here, Paul.

Before we get started, I want to congratulate every member of the council who ran for office, every person who got elected this term. I want to make sure that everybody understands that we are a wonderful, wonderful city. We're a wonderful city and I'm very proud to be the father of Valerie Amesqua. There you go. All right. Are we ready?

Valerie Amezcua

We're ready, dad. Okay.

Valerie Amezcua

I... Stand right here with grandma.

I...

Valerie Amezcua

I, Valerie Mesqua, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution

of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and alliance to the Constitution of

Valerie Amezcua

the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. I take this obligation

freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion that I will unfaithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter the duties which I'm about to Congratulations! Yeah!

Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga

Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga Yoga

Valerie Amezcua

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Valerie Amezcua

Good evening, everybody. Good evening to my family and friends.

Valerie Amezcua

As you can see standing next to me, my father, my husband, my children, my daughter-in-law, my grandson so and then the audience is all my family not a lot and my supporters I want to start off by congratulating the incumbents at one thank you for running for office it's a very challenging thing to do and it's difficult and so I want to thank each and every one of you and congratulate you and we talk about the mayor's race I will say again history has been made and the first time in the history of Santa Ana, I have received the highest votes in any mayor in the history of Santa Ana for Reelots.

Valerie Amezcua

And that is not by accident. That is a blessing. That is a blessing from God, all my supporters, people who walked, people who voted, my family, people who gave up their time to make phone calls. We walked, we talked, and we worked hard. And we did. Yes. First of all, I want to thank the voters of the City of Santa Ana for having confidence in me and for re-electing me for a second term as mayor of our great city.

Valerie Amezcua

After reflecting on my first term, I have come to have an even better understanding of our great city of Santa Ana. It is in Santa Ana where our residents work. It is in Santa Ana where we play, whether it's soccer, Little League, visiting a museum like Bowers, sitting in a park, or shopping on Calle 4. I know you're here, Calle 4, somewhere. I know you are. It is in Santa Ana where we pray in churches and synagogues, side by side, in peace. It is in Santa Ana where energy meets opportunity, where grit and determination produces incredible

Valerie Amezcua

results such as new jobs, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It is in Santa Ana where values like faith and family and country still ring true today. Moving forward, please know that the quality of life, of your life, and keeping our residents safe will always be among my top priorities, which is why I'm proud to share that during my first term we expanded our police force. Thank you, Thank you Chief. Thank you to Santa Ana PD.

Valerie Amezcua

We have implemented additional community policing programs. We saw a decrease in some crime areas. We're working to rebuild our infrastructure, our roads, our bridges, our transit and our water supplies. And as Councilman Penelope always says, Bristol's been in construction since he's in diapers. I think with our new city manager, Bristol will be done before his children get out of diapers. We completed major road repairs. We launched new transit routes, made strides in improving our water conservation systems. New parks were created in underserved areas and more to come.

Valerie Amezcua

Energy efficient street lighting was installed and we began greening our urban spaces to reduce our environmental impact. Santa Ana is connecting people to jobs and opportunities through education and training. And I know my brothers and the laborers are here and thank you very much. of the Orange County Labor Federation. Thank you. Santa Ana's connecting people, I said that, to jobs. We approved Bristol Related. That is going to give many of our constituents jobs and it's going to change the face of Santa Ana. We improved the electronic filing for city services and worked closely with local schools

Valerie Amezcua

to expand vocational programs for young people. I take credit for that, Adrian Wright in the back, we did that. Finally, one of my proudest moments from my first term was seeing our city leadership working together with our residents and countywide leaders to stop the proposed needle distribution program in our city.

Valerie Amezcua

What a beautiful moment that was and sets a perfect example of what can do when we work together. And just so you all know, other cities are calling upon us and asking us, Santa Ana, how did you do that? And I'll tell you how we did it. We've got a great city manager, great deputy city manager, staff, and all of you out there that signed your name, filed papers with us, said it's not going to happen in our city. That's how we did it, right? We came together as one. As I enter my second term as mayor, I know we share many common goals. from bringing new life to downtown Santa Ana to expanding our youth programs and

Valerie Amezcua

having a balanced budget. As your mayor I promise you that my door is always open to new ideas for our city. Now we again began the rewarding work of turning plans into achievements and thank you to all the city staff, our city manager, our deputy, our police chief because without all of you none of this can happen. Working together will make our city an even better place to live, work, raise our families. And I want to thank again all my friends and my family that are here, my children and my husband and my family truly that has given up their time, my time. I give my time to the city and they let me and they support me.

Valerie Amezcua

And there's many of you in the audience that are my dearest friends and I give up a lot, I spend a lot of time in our city and they support me. So I wouldn't be standing up here without them, especially my husband. And so as long as I promise to be home for dinner three nights a week, I'm okay. And I don't work on Sundays. So I don't work on Sundays.

Valerie Amezcua

He's from Coachella. The city manager's from Coachella. What can I say? You know, with that, we're going to close, and we're going to go to Bowers Museum. We're going to have mariachis, lion dancers. We're going to celebrate. And we're going to celebrate tonight because our city is on to the next time, era, right Alvarez will say? Because I don't know if you've noticed, with new city leadership, and that's not part of my speech, but I have to just say that with new city leadership, we have truly been seeing things happen. Things that have been on the back burner.

Valerie Amezcua

things that were not moving things that were just idle just because whether it was a sign a fence it was we were idle people were not moving things were not getting done so thank you all city manager Nunez deputy city manager Sylvia Vasquez police chief Rodriguez thank you and all of the city staff because again we as the council the mayor would not be able to do what we do without all of you. And to the voters in the community, thank you again for everything that you do and you bring to our wonderful city. Appreciate you. Have a good night. This meeting's adjourned.

Thank you.

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